The American Express: PGA Tour Golf Odds and Predictions
The American Express History
This tournament debuted in 1960 as the Palm Springs Desert Classic and was won by Arnold Palmer, one of his record five victories in the event. No other player has won the tournament more than twice. It has undergone several name changes over the years but is best-known as the Bob Hope Classic that draws many big-name celebrities for the pro-am portion of the tournament. A few U.S. presidents competed in that.
Through 2011, it was a five-round tournament but starting in 2012 it shifted to the usual four rounds – although the cut is after 54 holes. It is also played at three courses: PGA West’s Stadium course, PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament course and La Quinta Country Club (which has been in the rotation by far the longest of the three). All golfers play one of those the first three rounds and then there’s the cut. The final round is at the Stadium course, a par 72 at around 7,110 yards.
Some big names won’t play here – Tiger Woods to name one — simply because of the pro-am format (especially when it was 90 holes) as it takes so much longer to complete a round.
This was known as the Desert Classic for one year only in 2019 and won by relative unknown American Adam Long. In then just his sixth PGA Tour start, Long shot a final-round 7-under 65 at the Stadium course to finish 26 under and edge out playing partners Phil Mickelson and Adam Hadwin by a shot. More on Hadwin, who had a final-round 67, below. Americans have won the event seven of the past eight years and it has taken at least 20 under every year since 2008.
The American Express Betting Favourites
American Rickie Fowler is the opening +900 favourite at Sports Interaction. He didn’t play last week in Hawaii but was T5 the week before. Fowler hasn’t played this tournament since 2014.
Sungjae Im is +1400 with Paul Casey +1800. Im was 21st last week and 12th here a year ago in his debut. Casey last played this tournament in 2017 and was 58th. He took last week off. Tony Finau is +2000, and both Byeong-Hun An and Billy Horschel are +2500.
Mickelson, in his first year as tournament host, is +4500. Lefty had that co-runner-up last year, was third in 2016 and won in 2002 & ’04. Long is a +10000 longer shot to repeat.
Canadian Golfer Odds
The lone Canadian winner here was Mike Weir in 2003 when he finished the 90 holes at 30-under 330 and beat out Jay Haas by two shots.
Hadwin had that runner-up last year and also in 2017. He shot a third-round 59 (first Canadian to shoot that former magic number on the PGA Tour) at La Quinta that year and had the lead going into Sunday but was caught and passed by Hudson Swafford, who won by a shot. Hadwin isn’t playing this week – probably would have picked him as the winner – because his wife recently gave birth to the couple’s first child.
Roger Sloan (+25000) was T12 last year, Nick Taylor (+15000) was T40, and Mackenzie Hughes (+25000) and David Hearn (+30000) missed the cut. Michael Gligic (+40000) makes his tournament debut.
The American Express Predictions
Take Mickelson and Abraham Ancer for Top 10s, but the winner at +2800 is Kevin Kisner. He has made the cut here the past three years and hasn’t been worse than 14th in his past three Tour starts this season.